Founder of the Three Things Method of Storytelling, Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

Good Mimosa Mornin’! — Features from Atonement, TN

Here we have it — my first “between the serials” post. I admit that it feels a little strange, not writing a weekly episode after doing that for so long.

Note: In the title of these posts I’m making a distinction between the name of the first novel and the name of the town. “Atonement, Tennessee” is my debut novel. I’m using the state abbreviation as title in these posts because they might be about any story set in the fictional town Atonement, TN.

Update: My Writing Process

I actually started work on book-2 (“Atonement in Bloom”) close to a year ago. Unfortunately the bits of time I’ve been able to grab for the novel are brief and infrequent. I do more backtracking to refresh my memory than moving forward…

Lilith spies something in Sunhold’s cemetery

Now, it’s also been quite some time since I wrote book-1, Atonement, Tennessee, so the first step in my process is to re-read my novel (and I haven’t even had time to finish that). I want to make sure book-2 has the same tone and feeling.

The re-reading provided inspiration for this post — a novel snippet and the first installment of Recipes from Bethany’s Kitchen. The excerpt is from book-1 Atonement, Tennessee, Chapter 3, Mimosa Morning.

Here, early on a Sunday morning, Ralda makes an exploration of her new property, and she unexpectedly gets a little better acquainted with the new neighbors she met less than 24 hours before…

***

Rounding a bend in the path I came upon some of the old stone benches in a small clearing near the outside edge of the cemetery. Three very surprised women — my neighbors from the day before — turned to look at me. With cocktail glasses in hand, they exchanged puzzled looks.

“A woman after my own heart,” said Bethany, dressed again in head to toe black. “She wanders the cemetery on Sunday morning.”

I smiled in return, but feeling like an intruder on my own property, I didn’t move any closer.

Racine’s eyes widened. “Oh my God!” she exclaimed. “This is part of the old Sunhold estate. I wasn’t even thinking! And here we are, trespassing on our new neighbor; not to mention the booze. Just butter my butt and call me a biscuit!”

***

Which brings us to the first installment of Recipes from Bethany’s Kitchen. Bethany brought along a bartender friend this time.

How To Make – Mimosa Cocktail

Wishing you a good mornin’, afternoon, or evening from Atonement, TN! See you next time. Mega hugs!

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Why thank you Michelle! That brought a smile to my face. 😀 Some people add one liquor or another to their mimosas. Others are just champagne (or Prosecco) and orange juice – so they’re very mild. Sort of like a spritzer. I really appreciate you taking time to comment. Huge hugs!

Thank you so very much, Chitra. Yes, thank you — it was a very nice weekend. And I am happy to say I spent this holiday Monday working on Atonement in Bloom! Wishing you a week filled with wonders. Hugs 🙂 ❤

Wow — thank you! You may have gathered by the mimosas that my intended audience isn’t really young girls (women), but neither do I take anything to extremes. (I believe it’s “Mom” doing the blogging replies part for Faraday’s Candle though.) Love your delightful and educational blog! Mega hugs! 🙂

Hi Laurie — and thanks for these encouraging words. I’m more concerned about transferring the impetus to the novel writing! LOL. That and keeping readers interested without a serial… Thanks again for dropping by. Loved your latest post — especially about the parrots. Mega hugs!

A wonderful start. I find that it always takes time to get back into a flow but I can already see that you are entering a new creative adventure which is always both daunting and exciting. Please forgive me if I am slow in responding – but computer is acting up. Ah well, I will make myself a mimosa and all will be well:). Have an excellent day and week ahead xxx

Many thanks Janet. I understand computer issues all too well.
I actually started this novel many months ago, so it doesn’t have that shiny new feeling for me. But it is a little exciting — and i very much feel the daunting part! i appreciate you taking time to comment, amid the electronic challenges. Megs hugs! ❤ 🙂

So in a weird moment of duh I was going through my email, like, maybe backwards and actually found this post on Sally’s blog first (yes, it’s been one of those days). Anyway, I found it, and was soooooo happy to finally arrive!
I haven’t had a Mimosa in years, but seeing that video made me drool.
This is a great scene and I feel like deja vu since ‘Atonement, Tennessee’ is such a recent read, but it did stir something in me and made me…want to read it all over again! 😉
This was lovely, Teagan and you’re starting to get much better at being a shameless self-promoting bloghussy and bookhussy – you go girl!
Can’t wait until the next time…until then I shall revisit Atonement and see what I missed! 🙂
Off to share!!! 🙂
Take care and hope this weekend is filled with wonder!!! 🙂
Megahugs!!! 🙂

Donna you are always a delight. And I know that feeling (email) feeling very well. I’m still laughing about “bloghussy”… LOL. I wonder if I should add that as a title on my resume. I might get interesting offers.
I do love mimosas… I was inspired by the video today too… but sadly had no orange juice. I used peach sorbet instead. It wasn’t bad! Many, many thanks for taking time to comment. Hint for next week — 79 Words.
Mega hugs right back and an uber wonder-filled weekend to you as well. 😀

Email is both a blessing and curse, especially some days! 😉
It could get you some very unique offers!!! 😉
Necessity is the mother of mimosas! 😉
Oh ho, you brave thing, you! I really should get myself moving and try one of these challenges. 😉
It’s been a great weekend so far – voting (love love love voting!!!), board games, walking, catching up on TV and email, and my goodness, some writing even popped in there. 🙂
Hope this weekend treats you as you deserve (maybe it can’t be that good, but we can wish and hope). Megahugs, my friend and now I’m off to read your book, again. 🙂

This is great Teagan and weird too, I am re reading Atonement TN and had an idea to do a post about the brunch with Ralda, Lacey and Racine and feature the mimosa and a brunch dish inspired by the scene. Something with biscuits that line you put in cracks me up. There is so much I love about the book and reading it again highlights things I may not have really thought about the first time reading it. Love this!

Hi Suzanne! I am honored that you’d even think about doing a post related to my book — and that you’d re-read it. I hope i can recapture the same spirit in book 2.
Since it began as a NaNoWriMo book, I chose everything for speed. Before, I’ve never willingly let myself be part of a character. But to write a novel in a month, I had to let Ralda share a lot of “me.” I’m not sure that I’m the same “me” as I was then, so I’m very concerned about keeping the same tone for the new book.
But thank you — thank you — and thank you again. Mega hugs!

I’m glad you enjoyed this tidbit, Inese. Your latest post was amazing, and worthy of a book itself. I’m not sure what made me write that scene. I was just imagining (as Ralda) doing an early morning walk of the newly purchased property…and somehow that’s where it went. Wishing you a lovely rest of the weekend. Mega hugs!

Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Teagan Geneviene​ with some extracts from her book.. including this wonderful Mimosa Mornin’ cocktail.. I also love the expression ‘well butter my butt and make me a biscuit’ I have to use that when appropriate..

Welcome Marilyn and thanks so much for dropping by! LOL, I admit that despite growing up in the deep south, I haven’t heard that one many times. However, I couldn’t resist using it. Have a lovely weekend. Great big hug!

Teagan, what a great start! Not to take away from the series episodes, I loved them! This direction is keeping you in “book” thinking! Excerpts add intrigue and interest for us writers. And recipes for the writer/foodies! Both always incredible! Brava! Hugs for a restful & fun weekend! Chryssa

Chryssa, that’s music to my ears. I admit to trepidation about not doing serials for a while… but I could find no alternative. Then I thought of doing it this way — taking sort of a break, but not a full sabbatical. Great big hug back. Have a wonder-filled weekend. 🙂

Hi Tim — and thanks! Yesterday I did a 79-word challenge issued by Chris Graham, the Story Reading Ape. I used it to put my mind into my “Atonement-universe.” So I think that’s what’s on tap for next week.
Wishing you a spectacular Saturday. Hugs!

Love the excerpt. Boy, do I know all about revisiting previous books to catch up. Isn’t it fun to revisit the story and characters? Best of the best of luck! I’ve never had mimosa, but after watching the video, I can’t wait to try it. Enjoy your weekend, Teagan.

Hi Mary. Actually, yes! It has been so long since I really looked at Atonement that I am having fun re-reading it. As for the video, well the bartender was so cute, I had to use it. However, that was one of my favorite scenes from the book. I do love mimosas; they’re very mild (usually, though some recipes add other liquors).
I know you’re deep into editing, so don’t work too hard. Mega hugs!